Improved tinsmith s shears



H. S.` PRATT'. sHEARs No. 33,227. Patented Sept. 3, 1861.

In :le Ma-r ge f fw.

UNITED STATES V4ltATENT OFFICE.

HNRY S. PRATT, OF HARTFORD, ASSIGNOR TO J.'J. HOUGH & CO., OF

i i i MERIDEN, CONNECTICUT.

IMPRovl-:o TlNsMlT-Hs sHEARs.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 31227, dated September 3, 1861.

Togo/ZZ whom it may concern.'

Be it known that I, HENRY S. PRATT, of the city and countyof Hartford, and State of Conne'cticut, have invented certain new and 11Se- 1the same letters indicate like parts in each of the figures.

The nature of this improvement in tinsmiths7 shears consists in diverging or curv' lng the face, or what may be called theface 4side,ot` Vtheback of the blades of the shears,

commencing on the face side of the blades and near the cutting-edgesl 'and diverging or curving them outward from the cutting-edges, and from aline drawn perpendicularly between the blades in thedirection of the motion of the ,blades when inuse, they heilig made otherwise like those in com mon use.

In thc 'accompanying1 drawings, -Figure l shows a pair of tinsmi-ths shears iliade in all respects like those now in common use,'ex cept the cutting-blades d d, a section of which is cut through the line d ain Fig. 1 and shown in Fig. 2. Theline b is drawn through between the surfaces of the blades that work together and indicates the direction-of their motion. e arethe cutting-edges. df are the blades.l c shows the face side or surface of the blades d, which Work together nearvthe edges c 'and diverging or curving outward from the line b, as indicated by thedart.

Fig. 3 is, a section showingthe blades of shears, in shape nearlylike those ordinarily constructed or as now in common' use, which have their inner surfaces that work together straight, as shown by line b. V

'The advantage believed to be derived from this improvement in tinsmiths shears over others now in use may be briefly stated as follows: They will hold their cutting-edge longeigworkjmore freely and easily, avoid the ordinary crampaud friction of the edge of the metal against th"` sides of the blades, because the metal sheet, held by one hand while the improved shears are operated by the other, is more'easily controlled and moved as required, ou'account of the diverging shape of that portion of the blades c c above and below the cuttingfedges, thereby producing what may betrulyc'alled an improved article of (old) manufacture.4

I believe I have thus show-n the nature, construction, and the advantage to be derived from this improvement over others now in use to enable a person skilled'to make and use the same,

What I claim, therefore, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

As an improved article of (old) manufacture-viz., tinsmiths shears having the back of the inner surfaces of-the blades or jaws made diverging or curved from the line of mo-v tion of the working-surfaces, substantially in the manner as and for the purpose described. -In testimony whereof I nave hereunto set vmyhand and seal this 29th day of November,

1ste. l l

HENRY s. PRATT. [1.. s]

Witnesses:

R. B. BLISS, JEREMY W. BLISS. 

